Imagine your social media accounts continuing to post, reply, and interact, long after you’ve stopped using them, or even after you’ve passed away. That’s the unsettling yet fascinating idea behind a recent patent filed by Meta, the company behind Facebook and Instagram, according to a report by Business Insider. The concept revolves around building an AI system that can step in and behave just like you online. While Meta has clarified that it has no plans to actually develop this, the idea itself opens up a deeply complex conversation about technology, identity, and what it means to “exist” online.
What the patent is really trying to do At its core, the patent describes a system where AI doesn’t just generate content, it imitates a real person’s digital behaviour. This means the AI wouldn’t act like a generic chatbot. Instead, it would function as a version of you, shaped by your past activity. The document explains that this system could take over when a user is inactive for a long time. That absence could be temporary, like someone taking a break from social media, or permanent, such as in the case of death. It wouldn’t just sit there. The AI could: As the patent puts it: The language model may be used for simulating the user when the user is absent… for example… if the user is deceased. What makes this different from typical AI tools is intent. This isn’t about creating new content; it’s about continuing someone’s presence.
How the system would actually learn to “be you” At the heart of this system is training. The AI would learn about you by studying everything you’ve done online. It would analyse: Using this data, the system would build a digital personality model, basically a version of you that understands how you speak and behave online. Over time, this AI clone could respond to people in a way that feels familiar, almost like you’re still there. The patent even hints at advanced capabilities, like mimicking conversations or recreating interactions through audio and video. Also read: Galgotias professor seeks job after Chinese robot controversy, writes ‘Open to Work’ on LinkedIn
Why Meta explored this idea Meta’s reasoning isn’t only about death. The company suggests that such a system could be useful for people who have a strong online presence but need to step away for a while. For example: But the patent also acknowledges a deeper motivation. It notes that when someone disappears from a platform, especially permanently, it can affect how others experience that space. “The impact on the users is much more severe and permanent if that user is deceased and can never return…” So, in a way, this AI is imagined as a bridge, filling the gap left behind by absence.
Meta’s clarification: just an idea, not a product Despite how detailed the patent is, Meta has clearly stated that it does not plan to turn this into a real feature. We have no plans to move forward with this example. The company explained that patents are often filed to explore and protect ideas, even if they never become actual products. So for now, this remains a concept rather than a roadmap. Also read: That urgent call from your loved one can be fraud, here’s how a passphrase can save you
Not the first time this idea has come up The concept of a digital afterlife isn’t entirely new. Back in 2021, Microsoft patented a similar chatbot that could recreate a person using their data. That idea was later dropped, with some calling it “disturbing.”
Meanwhile, smaller startups are already experimenting with so-called “deadbots”, AI systems designed to mimic deceased individuals.
Why does this idea make people uncomfortable? Even as a concept, the idea of an AI continuing someone’s digital life raises serious ethical and emotional concerns. One major question is consent. Should an AI be allowed to represent someone after death? And if yes, who gets to decide how that version behaves? There’s also the emotional impact. For some, interacting with a digital version of a lost loved one might feel comforting. For others, it could make it harder to accept reality and move on.This is why many experts are cautious. Some argue that grief is a process that requires accepting loss, not blurring it with simulations. There are also fears of misuse. If such technology becomes real, it could be used to replicate someone without permission, raising concerns around identity, privacy, and even manipulation. Also read: Microsoft announces $50 billion AI push at India AI Summit
Digital afterlife or grief tech Meta’s patent taps into a growing space often called “digital afterlife” or “grief tech.” It shows how far AI could go in blurring the line between real and artificial identity. Even if this specific idea never becomes a product, it raises a bigger question: In the age of AI, does our digital life ever really end?
